RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Townley Haas can be added to the list of notable athletes from Richmond, Virginia.

Haas, competing out of the University of Texas, has qualified for the 200-meter free final in the Rio Olympics. The 19-year-old Virginia native now has the chance to compete for a gold medal.

“It’s been incredible. A little overwhelming I guess, but I’m getting used to it and I think getting that swim out of the way helped a lot,” Haas said.

Haas set the American record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:30.46 last March, which is actually slower than the time he recorded days prior. Haas is only a freshman at the University of Texas and is already being considered one of the faster swimmers in the Rio Olympics.